Azaleas in South Korea 2025

You may occasionally see beautiful pink mountainsides in Korean movies, but reality is often better than the pictures

Best time: mid-April–mid-May

Korean filmmakers learned to appreciate azaleas and pick pink flowery mountainsides as a setting for their romantic movie scenes. Symbolizing the arrival of spring, these beautiful pink blossoms draw in thousands of spectators every year to their beautiful scenery and stunning vistas.

Azalea Bloom Season

The azaleas are short-living, though, and you might enjoy them only during a tight period from mid-April through mid-May, sometimes even as late as early June. Most of the azalea-themed festivals, such as Yeongchwisan Azalea Festival, Hapcheon Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival, the Royal Azalea Festival, and others, also take place during this time.

Best Places to See Azalea Blossom

The best spots to enjoy these rosy scenes are the slopes of Yeongchwisan Mountain, Hwangmaesan County Park, Hwangmae Mountain, the highest point in the Sobaek mountain range, and Daegeumsan Mountain in Geoje. If you'd like to take photos, the most breathtaking ones can be taken at dawn.

Yeongchwisan Mountain

Just 1673 feet (510 m) tall, Yeongchwisan Mountain is known for being the first spot to experience azalea bloom, which means that during the early blossom season, it attracts hundreds of flower-watchers. The mountain is quite easy to climb and is perfect for casual hikers, children, or even older individuals. Yeongchwisan also serves as a venue for an annual festival, which takes place every April.

Hwangmaesan County Park

The Hwangmaesan County Park, namely Hwangmaesan Mountain, proudly stands on the border of the Gahoe-myeon and Daebyeong-myeon neighborhoods in Hapcheon-gun county. Besides azaleas, this spot boasts a variety of pine trees, which create a mesmerizing landscape. This gorgeous mountain is also where you can visit the annual Hapcheon Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival in May. The festival celebrates a gorgeous species of azalea, known as royal azalea, which is known for its beautiful pale pink flowers.

Daegeumsan Mountain

If you're in Gyeonggi-do, the heart of the country, you're in luck since Daegeumsan Mountain, known for vibrant pink azalea blooms, is situated here. The azaleas here normally bloom in late March, which makes it one of the most crowded times of the year. However, the mountain is stunning any time of the year. The hiking trail from Yeoncho-myeon is around 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long and is quite easy to climb.